Bridle-bit



J. A. FAIRBANKS.

(No Model.)

BRIDLE BIT.

No. 348,884. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

W SEES N PETERS HwlwLHMgI-apher. Walhinglan. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. FAIRBANKS, OF OAMBRIDGEPORT, ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE U. UPTON, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPEGEFICATIOIT forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,834, datedSeptember 7, 1886.

Application filed January 9, 1886. Serial No. lF8,0G5. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN A. FAIRBANKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Carnbridgeport, in the county of Middlcsex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare that the same are fully describedin the following specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to improvements in bridle-bits, and it is carriedout as follows, reference being had to the accom pan yi ng d rawings,whcre Figure 1 represents a rear elevation with a portion of thecovering shown as removed. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section onthe line A B, (shown in Fig. 1;) and Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectionon the line 0 1), (shown in Fig. 1.)

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on thedifferent parts of the drawings.

In making a bridle-bit it is desirable that thereshould be in the centerof it a soft or yielding cushion to make the bit easy in the horsesmonth. It is also desirable that such cushion should be protected bymeans of flexible steel plates or bands in front and rear to prevent itfrom injury and defacement, and it is furthermore of importance that,although elastic in relation to the pulling strain of the reins, itsyielding motion should be limited, and for these purposes I construct myimproved bridle-bit as follows:

a is the central yielding or elastic cushion, preferably made of rubber,rawhide, leather, or other suitable material, such cushion beinginelosed between the front and rear plates or strips, 7) and c, asshown, such strips. being preferably made of spring-steel properlytempered, although they may be made of other suitable metal or metals.

To the ends of the plate I) are firmly secured, by means of rivets (Z d,the eyes a e, which are made in the form of what is known as split pins,and to the outer portion of such split pins are pivoted thecheck-ringsff, as shown.

To permit the bit to yield in the horses mouth when the reins arepulled, and at the same time to limit the yielding capacity of the bit,I provide the plate or metal strip 0 with slotted perforations 0 0,through which the rivets d (I pass, and above which the latter areheaded, as shown.

It will be readily seen that by securing one of the metal plates to thesplit pins 6 e and providing the other metal plate with slottedperforations for the rivets to pass through I make the bit yielding tothe pulling strain on the reins, and when the latter are pulled farenough and hard enough to cause the outer ends of the slot-holes c c tobear against the rivets d d the bit will be made rigid, or nearly so,forming as it were a compound truss composed of the metal plates 2) cand the intervening cushion (1, thereby preventing the bitfrom pressingthe checks of the animal inward over the teeth, a fault common to allflexiblebits. It will also be noticed that the central cushion, a, isnot clamped in any man ner between the legs of the split pins (2 0, but

abut against the inner ends of the same, by which arrangement I obtain astrong and durable connection between themetal plates I) c and the eyes6 c, as well as preventing the ends of cushion a from wearing out, whichwould be the case if clamped or extended between the legs of the splitpins or eyes e e.

In practicel prefer to surround the bit be tween the eyes 0 c with arubber tube, g, as shown, so as to make it easy in the horses mouth, andto prevent such rubber tube from wearing out too quickly I protect it bymeans of the external leather covering, 72, as shown. Such covering maybe made to extend of equal length with the rubber tube 9, or it may bemade to cover the ends of the eyes 6 e if so desired.

I am aware that bridle-bits have been made with a central singleyielding'metal plate and leather cushions on either side and end clipsinclosing the ends of such leather cushions, and I wish to state that Ido not claim such construction and arrangement as my invention; but

\Vhat I wish' to secure by Letters Patent and claim is- 1. In abridle-bit, the central yielding cushion, a, inelosed between thespring-metal plates b 0, one of which is firmly riveted to the splitpins 6 e by means of rivets d d, and the other provided with slot-holes0 c, as and for the purpose set forth. 7

2. In a bridle-bit, a metal strip, 1), firmly riveted to the split pins6 e by means of rivets eted together, as described, the movable metal (Z(Z, the yielding longitudinal cushion a, havstrip a, the rubberinelosing-tuheg, and leather ing its ends abutting against the innerendsof covering h, all arranged and combined as and said split pins 0 e, andheld in place by means for the purpose set forth.

5 of a secondary metal plate or strip, a, pro- In testimony WhereofIhaveaflixed my sig- I5 vided with slotted perforations 0' c for the naturein presence of two Witnesses. rivets (Z (Z to pass loosely through, in amanner JOHN A. FAIRBANKS. and for the purpose as set forth. Vitnesses:

3. In a bridle-bit, the central yielding cush- ALBAN ANDREN,

[0 ion, a, the metal strip Z), and split pins 6 e, riv- HENRY OHADBOURN.

